Author: Brynn Boyer

The construction for the new Hyatt Place hotel in Eagle Village is underway, with the demolition of the vacant store fronts next to the Giant Food grocery store. The demolition process has been closely monitored by the UMW Foundation, who own the Eagle Village shopping center, to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

“We always recycle as much as we can,” said Jeff Rountree, UMW Foundation CEO. “Back when Eagle Landing was built the demolition material was recycled. We take responsibility for our buildings.”
A majority of the debris from the demolition, including steel, metal and concrete has been recycled by the Foundation. In addition to recycling parts of the demolished building, the Foundation also saved the cupola, the small, dome-like structure that resided on top of the original shopping center.

 
“We tried to find a use for the cupola because it looked in good shape,” said Rountree. “It was a feature of the building and worth trying to save.”

 
“The day before demolition a minister called me and asked if it could be used as a steeple for their church,” said Rountree. “In another 10 hours and it would have been demolished. It was almost like divine intervention.”

 
After the Rev. Ronnie Ford contacted the Foundation the cupola was salvaged and donated to The Charity Church of God in Stafford. The piece from the original 1962 building now resides on top of  the church.

 
Following demolition, the new Hyatt hotel will be built with many sustainable and energy efficient practices in place including water conserving plumbing and energy efficient light bulbs. The hotel will also be smoke-free to increase air quality and have limited exterior lighting to reduce the amount of light pollution. The 93-room hotel is expected to open at the end of 2013.

Photos of the cupola at its new home can be found in an article from the Sept. 13 issue of The Free Lance-Star: Cupola from demolished portion of Eagle Village lives on

The Office of Residence Life has three new first-year living learning communities on campus this fall.  Housed in Randolph Hall, all three communities were open to incoming first-year students.

VISION! is comprised of 10 individuals – nine first-year students and one upper-class program assistant. They returned to campus on Aug.19 for pre-orientation activities related to their mission. VISION! is focused on leadership development. During their pre-orientation events, the community engaged in a one-day leadership workshop and had the opportunity to go to the Virginia Outdoor Center in order to complete the ropes course as a community.

Justice for All is comprised of seven individuals – six first-year students and one upper-class program assistant. They returned to campus on Aug.19 for pre-orientation activities related to their mission. The community’s focus is social justice. During their pre-orientation events they traveled to Richmond to visit the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial and the Virginia Holocaust Museum. They also had the opportunity to go to the Virginia Outdoor Center to complete the ropes course as a community.

Empower U! is comprised of 12 individuals – eleven first-year students and one upper-class program assistant. They returned to campus on Aug.192012 for pre-orientation activities related to their mission. The community’s focus is gender empowerment. During their pre-orientation events they traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the Feminist Majority and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. They also had the opportunity to go to the Virginia Outdoor Center to complete the ropes course as a community.

Interested in getting involved?  If you are interested in getting involved in one of these groups contact Bethany Friesner, Marye House.

The University of Mary Washington is a unique meeting place for science and art. UMW’s physician, Dr. Tom Riley, epitomizes the two coming together in full force. Riley, who also is director of the Student Health Center, has focused on science and health since adolescence. After college, he worked at a private family practice for […]

The Office of Residence Life is very excited to welcome three new professional staff members and four graduate assistants to the Office of Residence Life and Commuter Student Services.

Matthew Troutman joined the staff as associate director of residence life for housing and operations. Over the last five years, Troutman was employed at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and has his M.S. in higher education from Indiana University. Matt has a 12-year background working in student affairs and is excited to now be working at UMW.

Marissa Miller joined the staff as the assistant director of residence life for Ball, Madison, Custis, Westmoreland and Virginia Halls (known as Area 3). Miller was employed previously at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. She has her M.S. in administration and supervision with a specialization in higher education from Middle Tennessee State University. Marissa has a background in first year living communities, apartment style living, theme housing, and campus wide programming. She is ecstatic about joining the residence life team at the University of Mary Washington. Furthermore, Marissa is overjoyed to supervise Area 3 because of the history that plays into those residence halls and seeing students/programs daily on Ball Circle!

Colin Coleman came to us from Arizona State University where he was a community manager for upperclassmen apartments and adult housing.  He has his M.Ed. in higher and post secondary education.  Colin has a varied background from college admissions to residence life working with first year, upperclassmen, and adult students in traditional housing, apartment style and family houses.  Colin is the assistant director for Area 1 (Bushnell Hall, Jefferson Hall, Framar House, South Hall and the UMW Apartments).  This year, he will be working closely with our themed housing opportunities and residential curriculum.

Graduate assistants for the Office of Residence Life include Alex Mejia, Matthew Shepherd, Tony Leger and Mary Cait Nannery.  Alex Mejia is enrolled in the MS-MIS graduate program and is responsible for Willard and Virginia Halls.  Matt Shepherd is pursuing a MBA and is responsible for Jefferson and Bushnell Halls.  Tony Leger is pursuing an MBA and is responsible for Marshall and Russell Halls.  Mary Cait Nannery is also pursuing an MBA and is responsible for the desk at Eagle Landing.

Please help the Office of Residence Life in welcoming these new UMW Eagles.